Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George Page A

calls?” She felt her eyebrows approach her hairline and stay there.
    She had hardly left the mansion the entire time she had been in Bucharest, other than to do a little shopping with Radu or a pair of burly footmen in tow. Prince Mihai’s calls were the only other exception. When she’d asked why they never received anyinvitations, or went to visit even the next-door neighbors, Aunt Kate had frostily informed her that the Florescu family was above such frivolity.
    â€œSince Prince Mihai has generously introduced you to the young people of Bucharest society,” Aunt Kate said, “it now behooves us to introduce you to their parents.” She sighed, as though she were not exactly looking forward to this. “We must maintain appearances.”
    â€œWhat appearances?” Dacia asked. “Aren’t we just as fashionable here as in New York?”
    â€œDon’t be fresh,” Aunt Kate snapped, though Dacia hadn’t meant to be fresh, and she suspected that Aunt Kate knew that very well.
    â€œMaria Louisa, get out of that bed,” Aunt Kate went on. “Put this on, and have the maid help you put your hair up. Breakfast is in half an hour, and the seamstress will be here immediately following.”
    â€œDo I really need any more clothes?” Lou’s face was still wrinkled with sleep, but she climbed out of the high bed. “We bought so many in Paris.”
    â€œLady Ioana has ordered this clothing for you,” Aunt Kate said. “You must thank her at dinner.”
    â€œShe’ll be at dinner again?” Dacia tried to keep the groan out of her voice, without much success. She reflected sourly, again, at how strange it was that the old witch made even her own daughters call her Lady Ioana.
    â€œ
Everyone
will be at dinner,” Aunt Kate said, her voice suddenly heavy. “I will leave a gown on your bed, Dacia. I suggest you hurry.” And she swept back out.
    Lou looked at Dacia in a dazed way. “Well, at the very least we’ll make some friends,” she said, but she didn’t sound too certain of that.
    â€œAnd possibly get some answers,” Dacia mused.
    Lou wandered over to her washstand, and Dacia forced herself out of the bed. Sauntering into her own room, she found a completely new gown on her bed, one that had been bought in Paris, and decided that the day might not be too bad after all. Also, in the course of their calls, they might run into Prince Mihai, or even Lord Johnny. It struck Dacia that she did not know where he was staying. With that man who had insulted Lou? And who was he?
    Dacia washed and dressed, wondering if she would dare to quiz the people they would be calling on. It would be impossible if Aunt Kate hovered, and if she was really planning to have them meet the adults, and only the adults. If, however, she and Lou were left to chat with people their own age, it would be relatively easy to ask if anyone knew the English lord, and to describe the man who had followed Lou around.
    The maid who had awakened them came in to help her with her hair. Her name was Nadia, and she had been assigned to assist Dacia and Lou. She was shy, but nice enough, and not that much older than Dacia.
    â€œNadia,” Dacia said as the maid rolled up the back of her hair and pinned it. “Do you think you could do me a favor?”
    The girl shot her a wary look in the mirror. “Yes, young miss?”
    â€œDo you know this neighborhood well?” Dacia did her best to sound casual.
    â€œYes, young miss. I have been with your family since I wastwelve.” She drew herself up, though it didn’t help much: she was a head shorter than Dacia. “And my family has served the Florescus for many generations.”
    â€œHow lovely,” Dacia purred. “Would you be able to do this one small thing for me?”
    Again the wary look. “What small thing, young miss?”
    Dacia decided that acting casual would